Sanctum: At Home with the Uncanny

Join photographer Mark C. O’Flaherty as he explores a world of interiors like no other – spaces that share a sense of the uncanny and an evocative, stirring beauty.

Sanctum presents interiors that appear to predate their current inhabitant - and will live on after they are gone. It is a book about homes that contain intriguing textures and a past life, transformed and reinterpreted by the people who live with them now. The objects frequently come with dramatic narratives; their juxtaposition creates often fantastical conversations. Some of these homes are, effectively, living museums, as well as studios where new work is being created.

You can buy 'interior design', but the uncanny has to be fostered: it's not a commodity with a price tag attached. Everyone represented in the book displays a confidence that is rare in contemporary interiors. Nothing is contrived, and almost none of them has engaged an interior designer.

A key literary reference for the project is In Praise of Shadows, the Junichiro Tanizaki book referenced repeatedly by designers and architects, which asserts that true beauty comes from flaws and ageing. Where there might be modernity evident in some of these interiors, it will be tethered by the provenance of objects that range from memento mori to esoteric architectural salvage. There are antique children's toys and objects from theatre and fashion shows that have become a part of the collective cultural imagination.

Featuring the homes of the likes of Agnès B, Simon Costin, Philip Lim and Pol Theis, these are spaces that tap into our fascination with the dilapidated grandeur of urban exploration, the bohemian sensibilities of eccentric collectors and our curiosity for all things gothic and esoteric.

About the Author

Mark C. O’Flaherty is a London-based interiors and portrait photographer with one foot in New York. He has worked for Issey Miyake, Hermès, Knoll, Nobu, Diane von Furstenberg, Established & Sons, Richard James and Rupert Bevan, as well as international editions of AD, World of Interiors, Financial Times Weekend, How to Spend It, Elle Decoration, Marie Claire Maison, Ideat, Vogue Living, MiLK Decoration, Interview, Sunday Times Style and The Times.

Luke Edward Hall is an English artist, designer and columnist. Luke’s philosophy is shaped by his love of storytelling and fantasy. He established his studio in the autumn of 2015 and since then has continuously split his time working on a broad range of projects and across multiple disciplines. He exhibits his drawings and paintings internationally and works as an interior designer, creating and art directing hotels, bars and restaurants.