Architects from across the UK have reacted with shock after waking up to the news that the country will leave the European Union (EU) following a referendum on its membership.

Over 72 per cent of the electorate cast their votes yesterday (23 June) and the final result showed 51.9 per cent to in favour of Brexit.

While the Leave campaign have begun wild celebrations, British Prime Minister David Cameron, a key supporter of remaining in the EU, has announced his resignation and the London stock market has plunged more than 8 per cent, with the value of the Pound dropping to its lowest level since 1985.

In the days running up to the vote, architects including David Adjaye, Rem Koolhaas and David Chipperfield had rallied for the remain campaign. The latter likened a vote for leave as “closing ourselves off from our friends and neighbours at a time of increasing global uncertainty.”

This morning, professionals from across the architecture and design industries have been taking to social media to communicate their surprise and disappointment.

In a statement, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners said: “We need to know what will happen with those relationships (contractual, personal and professional) that will have to be forged anew as a consequence of this vote. This result is not only significant for our practice but especially for the important proportion of our staff for whom this is not only a signal of a new, less open Britain but one that may lead to real and practical changes in their lives.”

Where do we go from here? RSHP respond to the leave vote https://t.co/YfInOgy6fW

— Rogers Stirk Harbour (@RSHParchitects) June 24, 2016