The owner of a house designed by architect Harry Seidler has told a tribunal that he doesn’t want to live in a museum and that the owner of the expensive property should be able to demolish it if it does not suit their needs.

Michael Bowden is appealing the ACT Heritage Council’s decision to add the Deakin home to the heritage register on the grounds that significant changes to the property have destroyed its design integrity.

The Harry Seidler designed house in Northcote Drive, Deakin. Credit:ACT Heritage

Mr Bowden told the tribunal on Friday that registering the house would devalue it and no one would seek to make the house smaller and restore it to its original condition.

He said he thought no private houses should be heritage listed without the owner’s permission.