Zaha Hadid Architects have declared they will continue their work “with curiosity, integrity, passion and determination” following the death of the studio’s pioneering founder, Zaha Hadid.

In a statement released today (18 April), the London-based firm said: “Zaha is in the DNA of Zaha Hadid Architects. She continues to drive and inspire us every day, and we work on as Zaha taught us.”

The practice added: “Zaha Hadid Architects and the Hadid family deeply appreciate the many heartfelt notes of condolence and tributes to Zaha. We thank all our friends, colleagues, clients and supporters around the world.

“Zaha trusted everyone to achieve the potential she saw in them, to never stop questioning, to never stop imagining, to realise the fantastic.”

The practice – who will continue to be overseen by senior designer and company director Patrik Schumacher, a long-time business partner of Hadid – pledged to continue researching, experimenting and collaborating to “make the discoveries we did not think were possible, working on new ideas, pushing them into the mainstream to raise standards and benefit all.”

Setting out their approach moving forwards, the firm said: “Marrying concepts of integration and connectivity with advancements in design, ecologically sound materials and construction practices, we do not look at the disparate parts, but work to understand them as a whole to find solutions to the defining challenges of our era.”

At the time of her death, Hadid had 36 projects in 21 countries under construction or in detailed design development. Her studio pledged to continue working on these, and confirmed that four are due to complete this year: the Salerno Maritime Terminal in Italy on 25 April, the Antwerp Port House in Belgium on 22 September, the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Saudi Arabia in October and the Mathematics Gallery at the Science Museum in London in December.

Hadid died of a heart attack on 31 March in a Miami hospital, where she was being treated for bronchitis. The loss has shocked the world of architecture, with tributes flowing from across the globe.