Alderman Graeme Beams thinks so.

He ignited debate during a Launceston City Council discussion on future uses for Civic Square's historic Macquarie House this week by predicting that a future city council would probably bulldoze neighbouring Henty House, which was built by the state government in 1983.

"We now have the situation where we have Macquarie House, one of Launceston's finest buildings, directly opposite the city's ugliest building," Alderman Beams said.

"The best thing that could happen to Henty House, at some future point, is for it to be completely demolished."

However, it has emerged that the Tasmanian Heritage Council is examining buildings in the Civic Square precinct with a view to new protective listings in the future - a move that could potentially see Henty House listed on the heritage register.

While some critics have panned the aesthetics of the building, others have defended it as a prime example of the "Brutalist" style of architecture - a style that involved the prominent use of raw concrete and internationally popular between the 1950s and 1970s.

National Trust managing director Chris Tassell said Henty House was noteworthy for being the best such example in Tasmania.

Launceston architect Jack Birrell said plenty of people in his industry were divided over Henty House.

"I have people in my own office, and I respect their opinions, who think it is a classic piece of architecture from that period," Mr Birrell said. "Personally, I feel sorry for the people who work in that building."

Fellow architect Lionel Morrell said he could think of plenty of other buildings that deserved the title of "Launceston's worst".

These included the Telstra exchange building, the Myer building, the Launceston Library and the Tasmania Police building.

"If you actually had a competition for Launceston's ugliest building, you would find a fair few to choose from," Mr Morrell said.

However, Launceston MLC Don Wing, who has maintained an office in Henty House since it was officially opened in 1983, said the building's stark lines had never bothered him.

Windermere MLC Ivan Dean, who also has an office in Henty House, said he believed the building was a unique Launceston icon, which was always a talking point among visitors.