The Coffeemania restaurant is located in the residential complex "Lucky" in lower city [1], Moscow. This area is characterized by a harmonious blend of modern buildings and historic structures dating back to the early 20th century. The Meganom architecture bureau designed the contrast between the cold, reflective residential buildings and the warm-colored brick historical buildings, one of which houses the restaurant. To create a cozy and inviting atmosphere, the interior design was carefully crafted to highlight the aesthetics of the furniture. The lighting fixtures played a significant role in enhancing the overall look, with their light reflecting off the surfaces and catching the eye through the windows.



[1] - The territory of the Lucky residential complex is divided into two parts - the “upper town” is a residential area, and the “lower” is a socio-cultural cluster with restaurants, cultural spaces and shops.

The bureau's team conducted an audit of the proposal from the APPA architectural bureau at the request of Coffeemania. During the audit, a shortage of equipment in terms of quantity, as well as a lack of anti-glare and oval-shaped accessories was revealed. Additionally, the installation type and location of light sources in various areas of the building were changed, including the entrance area, corridors, bathrooms, and stairs between floors. Ultimately, the new lighting system uses frameless light sources that are seamlessly integrated into the ceiling and provide aesthetically pleasing and comfortable lighting.


The third floor has undergone significant changes. Initially, the wooden ceiling with beams was planned to be open, creating a special atmosphere in the historic industrial building. Reflected light was supposed to emphasize this atmosphere, carefully hidden from visitors' eyes. However, due to changes in the ventilation design and the need to reduce noise levels, builders had to add a plasterboard ceiling. This has lowered the overhead rotary lamps, but careful consideration of their location and lighting direction has created a comfortable lighting environment, with visibility of the light sources not being critical.

The interior of the restaurant is designed with restraint in mind, and in order to enhance the overall atmosphere, the lighting and track systems have been painted to match the ceiling of the central hall. Warm white light with a color temperature of 2700 K successfully shades the light shades and various natural materials used in the interior, creating a comfortable atmosphere for visitors to relax and feel at home. Despite the high color temperature, the color rendering index of the lighting devices is high, making food and drinks look more attractive.

The decorative light sources have lampshades made of translucent materials such as porcelain, alabaster, and frosted glass. These materials create soft lighting that fills the space, and their features affect the lighting as well. Porcelain gives a light marble green tint, while alabaster adds a warm pink tone to the light.

The lighting in this space, designed by the architects, is presented in a variety of interesting installations. A particularly iconic element of the interior is a large chandelier with porcelain shades that consists of several concentric rings. This chandelier gives the room a unique charm. Light fixtures are also located in a small hall and on the staircase. The design of these lighting sources is particularly interesting. They use filament bulbs, and thanks to a cutout on their body, the light flux spreads along the walls.

Due to this balanced combination of architectural and decorative lighting, decorative lamps are not designed to fully illuminate functional surfaces. This solution gives you a certain freedom in choosing decorative lighting and allows you to approach its use more creatively.

To ensure a sufficient level of lighting at the waiter's counters, we installed an LED strip that was hidden in the profiles of specially designed structures integrated into the counters. By eliminating the lighting of these functional surfaces with traditional ceiling lights, we were able to create a soft "island" of light, creating a comfortable working environment without introducing unnecessary lighting into the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant.

One of the main functional and aesthetic solutions in the project was the creation of local contrasting lighting zones on the tables. This technique allows you to present food and drinks effectively to guests, creating an inviting atmosphere for comfortable dining and comfortable conditions for reading the menu.

The range of optics chosen for the project allowed us to eliminate functional tasks and the need for decorative and navigation lighting. Considering the compactness of the tables in the restaurant and the relatively high ceiling height, the lighting design team chose to use devices with anti-glare grids and a light distribution angle of 7 degrees. This way, we were able to eliminate unwanted shadows and prevent the spread of light outside the desired area.

An essential requirement for a top-notch restaurant is the capability to regulate lighting and provide a variety of lighting options. Management enables staff to swiftly and precisely alter the ambiance according to a predetermined plan. The lighting management system in this project relies on the standardized DALI protocol, which controls interior lighting. This technology enables us to create distinct lighting configurations for different times of day, as well as adjust the intensity of multiple light sources concurrently. The comprehensive control system encompasses not only interior lighting but also decorative fixtures such as table lamps, which are controlled via specialized sockets. Consequently, the lighting in the restaurant adapts and alters according to the demands of the establishment, facilitating operational convenience for staff and providing a comfortable environment for guests.