He was the son of Supreme Court Attorney Christopher Hansteen (1822–1912) and Lagertha Cecilie Wulfsberg (1820–1897).
[5][6] He is most associated with his work on Tostrup Yard (Tostrupgården), a business premises on Karl Johans Gate in Oslo.
The structure was designed by architects Christian Fürst, Torolf Prytz, and Waldemar Hansteen and built between 1896 and 1898.
[7][8] He also oversaw the erection of Gol stave church at Bygdøy, today a part of the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History.
His work included the main office of the former Central Bank of Norway (1912–1922, with Henrik Bull), as well as the headquarters of the former Fellesbanken and Sparebanken NOR.