diff --git a/zddc/internal/fs/tree.go b/zddc/internal/fs/tree.go
index 2d9f697..51cdeb0 100644
--- a/zddc/internal/fs/tree.go
+++ b/zddc/internal/fs/tree.go
@@ -80,9 +80,13 @@ func ListDirectory(ctx context.Context, decider policy.Decider, fsRoot, dirPath,
 	result := make([]listing.FileInfo, 0, len(entries))
 
 	// Display overrides for this directory's children, sourced from
-	// THIS directory's .zddc `display:` map. Built once and looked up
-	// case-insensitively per entry. Empty map = no overrides.
-	displayMap := readDisplayMap(absDir)
+	// THIS directory's cascade-resolved `display:` map (embedded defaults +
+	// ancestor + on-disk overrides). Built once and looked up case-
+	// insensitively per entry. Empty/nil = no overrides. Cascade-resolved
+	// (not just the on-disk file) so the baked-in default labels — archive →
+	// "Archive", mdl → "Master Deliverables List", … — render with no
+	// per-project config, while an operator's on-disk display: still wins.
+	displayMap := zddc.DisplayAt(fsRoot, absDir)
 
 	// Set of cascade-declared child names (lowercase) for this dir.
 	// Entries with a matching name get Declared=true so clients can
@@ -396,25 +400,6 @@ func virtualCanonicalFolders(ctx context.Context, decider policy.Decider, fsRoot
 	return synth
 }
 
-// readDisplayMap parses dirAbs/.zddc and returns its Display map (or
-// nil when the file doesn't exist or has no display block). All keys
-// are case-folded to lowercase so lookupDisplay's case-insensitive
-// match is a simple map read.
-func readDisplayMap(dirAbs string) map[string]string {
-	zf, err := zddc.ParseFile(filepath.Join(dirAbs, ".zddc"))
-	if err != nil || len(zf.Display) == 0 {
-		return nil
-	}
-	out := make(map[string]string, len(zf.Display))
-	for k, v := range zf.Display {
-		if v == "" {
-			continue
-		}
-		out[strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(k))] = v
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
 // lookupDisplay returns the custom display label for name (matched
 // case-insensitively against displayMap's keys), or "" when no
 // override applies.
diff --git a/zddc/internal/zddc/defaults/_any_/.zddc b/zddc/internal/zddc/defaults/_any_/.zddc
index 44ee314..6a50e3b 100644
--- a/zddc/internal/zddc/defaults/_any_/.zddc
+++ b/zddc/internal/zddc/defaults/_any_/.zddc
@@ -5,3 +5,17 @@ acl:
     project_team: r
     observer: r
     document_controller: rw
+
+# Friendly labels for the canonical project peers. On-disk names stay
+# simple/lowercase; clients render these (listing display_name) in their
+# place. Cascade-merged + per-key overridable, so an operator can rename
+# any label in an on-disk project .zddc without renaming the folder.
+display:
+  archive: Archive
+  incoming: Incoming
+  working: Working
+  staging: Staging
+  reviewing: Reviewing
+  mdl: Master Deliverables List
+  rsk: Risk Register
+  ssr: "Supplier/Subcontractor Status Report"
diff --git a/zddc/internal/zddc/lookups.go b/zddc/internal/zddc/lookups.go
index 0d7dc39..77746d9 100644
--- a/zddc/internal/zddc/lookups.go
+++ b/zddc/internal/zddc/lookups.go
@@ -31,6 +31,40 @@ func DefaultToolAt(fsRoot, dirPath string) string {
 	return chain.Embedded.DefaultTool
 }
 
+// DisplayAt returns the cascade-resolved `display:` map for a directory —
+// the human-friendly labels a client renders in place of on-disk child
+// names (e.g. mdl → "Master Deliverables List"). Unlike a single tool
+// name, display: is a MAP that merges across the cascade: the embedded
+// baseline is the floor, then each on-disk level overrides per key
+// (shallow→deep, so the deepest .zddc wins). Keys are lower-cased so the
+// caller's lookup is case-insensitive on the on-disk basename. Returns nil
+// when nothing declares a label. Mirrors how walker.go merges Display, but
+// resolved on demand for one path (the listing reads it per directory).
+func DisplayAt(fsRoot, dirPath string) map[string]string {
+	chain, err := EffectivePolicy(fsRoot, dirPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	merged := map[string]string{}
+	add := func(m map[string]string) {
+		for k, v := range m {
+			v = strings.TrimSpace(v)
+			if v == "" {
+				continue
+			}
+			merged[strings.ToLower(strings.TrimSpace(k))] = v
+		}
+	}
+	add(chain.Embedded.Display) // embedded baseline (the defaults tree)
+	for i := 0; i < len(chain.Levels); i++ {
+		add(chain.Levels[i].Display) // on-disk overrides, shallow→deep
+	}
+	if len(merged) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return merged
+}
+
 // DirToolAt returns the cascade-resolved tool name served at the
 // directory's TRAILING-SLASH URL form. Walks chain.Levels leaf→root
 // (then the embedded defaults), returning the first non-empty