You have a vision for a place. Let's figure out how to make it real.
Who this is for
You have a site, a development, or an urban challenge and you need expertise in design quality that your current team doesn't cover. Maybe you need a design vision grounded in evidence. Maybe you need someone to write the brief that ensures your architects deliver beauty, not just function. Maybe you need access to specialists who understand traditional and human-scale design.
Whether you're a developer, a local authority officer, a community group, or a landowner with a serious project, if you care about making a place people will love for generations, we should talk.
How it works
We talk. Book a free introductory call. Tell me about your project: where it is, what you're trying to achieve, what's getting in the way.
I assess. Based on your needs, I'll propose how I can help. Sometimes that's direct advisory from me. Sometimes it means assembling the right specialists from my network.
We move forward. You receive a clear proposal: who's involved, what they'll deliver, what it costs, and on what timeline.
What I bring:
I'm Ruben Hanssen, founder of The Aesthetic City. My work sits at the intersection of traditional urbanism, evidence-based design, and the neuroscience of beauty.
What that means in practice: I help you define what quality looks like for your specific project, set enforceable aesthetic standards, and make sure the design team you hire is briefed to deliver it. I work upstream of architecture, so that by the time plans are drawn, the direction is clear.
I also bring access to a curated international network of urban designers, architects, placemakers, and strategists who share a commitment to human-scale, beautiful design.
I can help with:
Design quality frameworks and briefs
Application of traditional and New Urbanist design principles
Biophilic design integration
Aesthetic review and judgment
Building code and design guideline development
Urban visions and masterplan direction
What this isn't:
This isn't experimental architecture or avant-garde design theory. I don't create legally valid building plans or sign off on permits. What I do is make sure the recipe is right before the cooking starts, and help you find the best chefs.