Custom Lighting Brings Moona Restaurant’s Vision to Life

Lighting Solutions for High-Visibility Restaurant Environments

The Challenge

Moona, the beloved Inman Square restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, recently opened its second location on Main Street, designed by Boston firm Bergmeyer. The new space offered greater visibility and scale, and introduced a new set of architectural challenges that required a thoughtful, strategic design approach.

Situated at the ground level of the MIT Engine Building, the space is wrapped in glass on two sides and anchored at a prominent Cambridge intersection. The exterior reads modern and restrained. The interior volume is tall, linear, and exposed to view from the street.

The question was not simply how to light the space, but how to transform it.

The design needed to replicate the warmth and intimacy of Moona’s original location while working within a long, narrow footprint and a disciplined budget. The verticality of the space risked feeling cavernous. The architecture required softening. The brand required presence.

Lighting would become the defining gesture.

“With glass on two full sides, we began thinking of the restaurant as a shadow box. Everything inside would be on display.”
— Louis Carter, Associate Principal, Bergmeyer

The Solution

Bergmeyer treated lighting as both an architectural tool and the emotional center of the space.

To make the tall room feel more intimate, the team designed a custom pendant installation suspended above the dining area. The layered composition visually lowered the ceiling, bringing warmth and human scale to the space while maintaining its openness.

“We used light to create a visual ceiling,” Louis said. “The goal was to draw the eye down and make the volume feel intentional rather than overwhelming.”

Developed in collaboration with WAC Group’s custom capabilities under the dweLED brand, the installation was designed to balance scale, texture, and visual impact.

Custom Lighting Features:

• Central canopy supporting eight E26 medium-base sockets
• Black canopy and cable detailing for subtle contrast
• Adjustable 12-foot suspension cables for a layered, sculptural composition
• Ribbed white shades in varied proportions from 12″ to 22″ diameter and up to 26″ in height
• Matte black frame accents at the top and bottom of each shade for refined definition
• 2700K illumination for a warm, inviting hospitality atmosphere

The design evolved from industrial concepts to softer forms and tactile materials, creating a pendant installation that contrasts the exterior and adds intimacy and depth.

The Outcome

At night, Moona glows.

Set against the building’s cool, contemporary façade, the interior beckons like a luminous lantern at the corner. From the exterior, the lighting sets the mood before guests even step inside.

Inside, the lighting softens the scale of the tall space and creates intimacy within the linear plan. It strengthens the restaurant’s identity while enhancing the dining experience through warmth and rhythm.

Importantly, the solution balances artistry with practicality. By using standard E26 sockets with curated lamping and custom shade fabrication, the solution delivers refined design within budget parameters.

The result is not simply decorative lighting. It is atmosphere brought to life.

Conclusion

Moona’s second location highlights the impact of custom lighting in hospitality design. Working within a stark architectural shell and a fully transparent façade, Bergmeyer used light to shape perception, create intimacy, and bring warmth to the space. In collaboration with WAC Group, a sculptural pendant installation became the defining element of the interior.

Today, Moona stands as both a successful expansion and a clear example of how thoughtful lighting can transform architecture, strengthen brand presence, and create a lasting sense of welcome.

WAC Group: Lighting For Every Project

Whether your project calls for a refined standard fixture or a fully custom solution, WAC Group offers the flexibility to support your vision at every stage.

From concept development through engineering and fabrication, our team works alongside architects and designers to deliver lighting that performs as beautifully as it looks.

Explore our standard and custom offerings to discover solutions that balance design intent, technical precision, and real-world application.

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Project Partners

Project Name: Moona Central Square, 243 Hampshire St, Cambridge, MA

Restaurant Owner: Mohammad El Zein

Design Firm: Bergmeyer

• Associate Principal: Louis Carter
• Lead Designer: Angela Dewar

Photo credit: Photography by Brian Samuels