Polygonale is an informal scientific network supported by a transdisciplinary research and teaching collective that has been connecting teachers, researchers, and practitioners for fifteen years, most often working in schools of architecture (Paris Val de Seine, Normandy, Saint-Etienne, Nantes) and in dedicated laboratories (Evcau,-Ate-Normandie, Grf Transformations), or in other higher education establishments.

Polygonale wishes to examine in Nantes, on the occasion of its 16th meeting, in line with the cycle of 6 previous years devoted to the common, the mutation of architectural practices called "collaborative" or proceeding more simply from other forms of control or disengagement of work which are in line with the contemporary political issues (cross-cutting problems of the common and the environment) and economic issues (reconditioning of the traditional commission, access to other types or forms of commissions).

This has led to a proliferation of renewed practices, including the production of architectural collectives or a range of alternative forms of architectural practice:

- Practices of the architect-mediator: issues of the commons (consultation, resident participation, guided tours, site occupations, architectural permanence) as addressed by "agencies" considering the upstream aspects of production

- practices of the architect-maintainer (or arranger of reality): challenges of transforming environments, in the deployment and articulation of the actions of these teams [analyze, do, participate, transmit, assess, project]

- Architect-builder practices: the challenges of fabrication - a direct relationship to materials (by examining their life cycle) and to construction (by examining transformations and assemblies): the architect "getting their hands dirty" to revise the design/construction divide

- Practices of the architect-researcher: challenges of the investigation into alternative practices (ecological houses, reuse sectors, architect collectives, etc.) capable of inventorying, classifying, operationalizing, theorizing and sharing a stock of experiences and knowledge

This involves "innovative" structures in terms of work organization and legal forms, to serve these practices.