丨中国上海丨INF. ∞ Studio

Smuggling Dusk: A Time Illusion Journey to the Good Afternoon Bar

Abstract

In the high-intensity rhythm of the city, people frequently miss that serene moment of dusk. Good Afternoon Bar, by the meticulous orchestration of light, color, material, and spatial sequence, conjures a “twilight indoors” illusion. Once inside, night recedes; one inhabits a realm permanently suspended in afternoon time.

Context & Motivation

In the modern urban 996/long-hour work system, dusk is often "missed"—people rush about before the sunlight fades, and by the time they leave work and step through the door, night has already fallen. Good Afternoon Bar ("Twilight Extension Project") is a gentle counterattack against this reality. It is not merely a bar, but a temporal and spatial sanctuary that extends the twilight and resets perceptions for the weary urbanites.

Design Concept

Temporal illusion: Design isn’t about making spaces "look like dusk," but rather using visual and perceptual strategies to make people "feel the presence of dusk"—even when it’s actually nighttime outside.

Counter-rhythm, going against the flow: In a city fragmented by fast-paced time, we resist with slow, soft, gradual light and color.

Material resonance: Using materials like amber white, pearl white, and orange-red metal doesn’t create cold contrast; instead, it fosters dialogue through material warmth, reflectivity, texture, and interplay with light and shadow.

Spatial Sequence & Experience

Entrance

The façade remains minimalist and unmarked, with only a black metal painted doorway with an orange-red round door handle and a low-key "GOOD AFTERNOON" lettering as a reminder. When the visitor pushes the door and enters, from the night outside to the "dusk" inside, this contrast instantly completes the conceptual transformation - night and day are superimposed here, and the experience of time dislocation is thus opened.

The Main Hall

The main hall is organized around abar counter that extends outward, merging the bartender’s workstation and the guests’ seating into a continuous element.

This spatial intimacy dissolves the traditional boundary between performer and audience, allowing spontaneous, eye - level interaction.

Given the limited ceiling height, the design employsa pearl - white suspended ceilingcombined with“artificial skylights” using daylight - simulation panelsto generate a diffused, natural glow.

To preserve openness, the skylights are positioned only along thecorridor connecting the entrance and the restroom, creating a gentle transition of light and spatial rhythm.

As the illumination dims, the warmth of the light blends with the textured wall finish, gradually solidifying the “density of time” within the space. Conversations slow down; movements soften.

At the heart of the bar, anartificial flame featureintroduces subtle dynamism—offering introverted visitors a delicate veil of privacy, a comforting visual boundary within shared intimacy.

Auxiliary SpaceLight & Temporal Rhythm

The red restroom, with its orange metallic baked enamel wrapped walls, is hidden from the main space. It is a strong contrast to the tranquil warm white color. This contrast creates a visual tension, so that when one is slightly intoxicated, one can still find a safe place for drunken people in such a small bar.

Lighting design is based on warm light (2000-3000K), supplemented by gradient control and local focus on light, so that the indoor light environment in the "dusk" "twilight" "afterglow The light environment in the room will move slowly between "dusk", "twilight" and "afterglow". The temperature of the light changes with the passage of time, as if the space itself is breathing, in the cycle of light and darkness to prolong the period of never-ending.

Photography©️ALTNVISON

User Experience Narrative

When you step in and lift your glass, time gathers on the rim. Inside and outside quietly merge—night fades into an endless dusk. No clocks, no windows, only the calm of a twilight that never ends.

Operation &Reflections

Since its official opening in early April, Good Afternoon Bar has become an exception to the rule in the city’s nightlife. The real night continues outside the door, while the twilight inside is a constant. People talk, raise their glasses and fall silent in the interplay of light and shadow, and in the time it takes to drink a glass of wine, they reconcile with themselves and with the missed twilight.

Although the project has only been in operation for a few months, we have continued to gather feedback from our visitors - which corners are mesmerizing? Which lights make people stop? Which materials touch the senses the most? These subtle experiences form the "second life" of the space. In the future, the Good Afternoon team may wish to extend this concept in different cities, developing "Twilight Time" into a series of spaces or cross - border art installations, so that this experiment in time and perception can continue to happen.

Closing Statement

“What you drink here isn’t alcohol—it’s the sunset confiscated by the system.” Good Afternoon Bar exists not to escape the night, but to return the lost twilight to those who never had time to see it.

Credits

Project Name:Smuggling Dusk, Good Afternoon Bar

Project Type:Bar, Commercial Interior Space

Location:Shanghai, China

Floor Area:Approximately 30 m²

Design Period:January 2025

Completion Date:March 2025

Design Studio:INF. ∞ Studio

Lead Designer:Altankhuu Jorgutyn

Design Scope:Interior Design, Spatial Concept, Brand Experience

Client:Good Afternoon Bar

Furniture Design:Custom Furniture Design by INF. ∞ Studio

Construction:Xiangkang Architectural Decoration

Photography:ALTN VISION