Introduction
2026 marks a major milestone for CROE Architects: ten years of designing, planning, and delivering thoughtful spaces across the Home Counties, Cotswolds, Cheltenham, London, and beyond.
As we begin our anniversary year countdown, we wanted to start at the beginning — with the people who built CROE and continue to shape it today.
Founders Who Started the Journey
Joe Reader and Craig Humber founded CROE Architects in 2016 with a shared vision: to combine design ambition with practical delivery. Both trained and chartered architects, they brought together complementary strengths — Craig’s background in large-scale and commercial projects, and Joe’s experience in residential and heritage design.
From their very first projects, the goal was clear: to listen carefully to clients, respect context, and create spaces where light, flow, and detail come together to enhance everyday life.
Large-Project Thinking for Everyday Homes
Craig and Joe started CROE with the goal of bringing large-project thinking to the everyday residential project. In the beginning, the practice focused exclusively on homes — extensions, refurbishments, and the occasional new-build.
As CROE progressed, so did the scope of work. Today, the practice delivers a wide variety of projects: commercial and leisure spaces, residential developments, barn conversions, and one-off bespoke homes.
Yet the roots remain. While the team loves the challenge of larger, complex projects, CROE has never lost sight of the smaller residential commissions. These are often the projects that make the most meaningful difference to a person’s or family’s life — turning a cramped space into a home that truly works for them, and bringing everyday comfort and joy through thoughtful design.
Growing a Team, Growing an Idea
CROE began as a two-person partnership. Within a decade, it has grown into a multidisciplinary practice with studios in Hitchin and Cheltenham, supporting projects ranging from intimate home extensions to heritage refurbishments, barn conversions, and community leisure buildings.
CROE also places strong emphasis on the education and development of young architects and technicians. We strive to create an environment where learning continues and accelerates, particularly for team members joining us from Part I and Part II studies. Combined with the expertise of experienced architects, this mix of perspectives allows us to respond to every brief with creativity and rigour.
A Culture of Collaboration
At CROE, collaboration is central:
- With clients — ensuring the design reflects lifestyle, budget, and ambition. It’s not our home, but theirs.
- With consultants — engineers, planners, surveyors, and contractors who help bring our concepts to life, exploring possibilities, embracing new technologies, and minimising risk.
- With heritage and planning authorities — from working with the Letchworth Heritage Foundation to local councils across Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, and London.
- With builders and contractors — we know that successful delivery depends on strong partnerships. Over nine years, we’ve built a trusted network of contractors, avoiding unreliable operators and fostering relationships that give clients confidence in both process and outcome.
This spirit of partnership is why our projects succeed — not just as buildings, but as places where people feel at home, inspired, and connected.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead
As we approach our tenth year, we’re proud of how far CROE has come — from heritage renovations to modern sports centres, from barn conversions to new family homes. But more importantly, we’re excited about what’s next: new technologies like AI-assisted design, evolving sustainability goals, and the opportunity to continue shaping places across the regions we know best.
Closing
Over the next year, we’ll be sharing stories from our journey: deep dives into projects, guides to working with barn conversions, insights on costs and process, the do’s and don’ts of starting a heritage project, and a celebration of the ideas that inspire us.
This first post is a thank you — to our founders, our team, and to every client and collaborator who has trusted CROE along the way. Here’s to the next decade of thoughtful design.