Is This Material Good for Me? A Guide to Choosing Healthier, Soulful Materials in Your Next Build
Want a healthier building? Learn what questions to ask your architect, builder, or supplier to ensure your materials are non-toxic, sustainable, and good for both people and planet. Michael Davies of Daedal guides you with some options.
Nature Already Got It Right: Why the Best Materials Aren’t Man-Made
Natural materials like wool, timber, and stone outperform many man-made alternatives. At Daedal, Michael Davies Architect NZ explores why soulful, sustainable architecture starts with what nature already perfected.
What if sustainability isn’t the goal?
Sustainable buildings can still cause harm. At Daedal, Michael Davies Architect NZ explores why regenerative and biophilic architecture must go further — restoring ecosystems, enriching lives, and creating soulful, living environments.
Too Many Signs, Not Enough Sense: The Visual Noise of Modern Cities
Auckland-based architect Michael Davies of Daedal explores the rising epidemic of visual noise in our cities. Is it time to rethink signage and trust human intuition again?
Start with the Soil: Why Architecture Should Be Landscape-Led
Great architecture begins with the land. Discover why landscape-led design leads to more resilient, soulful, and sustainable buildings – from city blocks to tiny homes. A Daedal perspective by Michael Davies Architect NZ.
Designing for Cities That Feel Alive
Discover why cities like Auckland need more than efficiency — they need soul. Michael Davies of Daedal Architecture explores how curiosity, vibrancy, and sensory richness create urban spaces that feel truly alive.
“architecture” vs. “Architecture”: Why the Lowercase Matters
Discover the quiet power of lowercase architecture—human, soulful, and built for real life. Michael Davies Architect NZ explores the difference between buildings that perform and buildings that feel.
The Soulful Architecture Manifesto
Discover The Soulful Architecture Manifesto by Daedal—led by Michael Davies Architect NZ. A human-centered, biophilic, and emotionally resonant approach to contemporary architecture and sustainable design.
Why Some Buildings Just Have That Feeling
Discover why some homes instantly feel like home. Michael Davies, Architect NZ, and Daedal explore the power of human-centered design, emotional architecture, and biophilic principles in creating soulful spaces that connect deeply with people and place.
Introducing Biophilic Design into School Spaces
Michael Davies, Architect NZ, and Daedal bring biophilic design to school refurbishments, integrating nature-inspired visuals and materials. Discover how macro photography of native NZ bird feathers, wood textures, and thoughtful design elevate student well-being and cognitive function.