With the rise of environmental concerns and the impact of information technologies, architecture is changing, and so are the methods of design. Thus, new approaches based on principles of information sharing, data, algorithms and collaboration are at the forefront of theoretical and practical architecture debates. This article presents a collaborative methodological approach to digital design, creating a system where the relationships between form, structure, and material are informed and interact dynamically. The approach proposed operates at the intersection of various disciplines, including mathematics, mechanics, physics, construction history, and computation. It relies on collaboration among diverse actors, enabling each to contribute their practical and constructive expertise in a comprehensive and integrated manner across multiple dimensions of the architectural project. Considering innovation as an intrinsic element within a continuous historical context, this research identifies in a past construction technique the potential for developing innovative systems. To revalue the connection between tradition and innovation, focusing on the links between form, technique and construction, we present an example application of the methodology for formfinding of a flat stone vault. This application is based on a topological interlocking system, which draws inspiration from a patent dating back to the 17th century. We detail the numerical design steps of the stone system as well as the prototyping phase based on the use of traditional stereotomy cutting methods. Finally, we present a prototype built during a workshop with students from École Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris-Malaquais, in collaboration with Compagnons du Devoir et du Tour de France.