Riscoprire Jorge Luis Borges come critico d’architettura. A 40 anni dalla morte
The article commemorates the 40th anniversary of Jorge Luis Borges's death, reflecting on his legacy as a writer and his lesser-known role as an architectural critic. It highlights a 2025 book by Estela Canto, a close friend, which reveals Borges's personal fragility and contradictions, such as his love for popular cinema over classical music. The piece also explores Borges's fictional architectural criticism, particularly his 1967 work *Cronache di Bustos Domecq* co-written with Adolfo Bioy Casares, where he satirized functional architecture through invented pioneers like Adam Quincey and Alessandro Piranesi.
This matters because it challenges the mythologized image of Borges as a universal intellectual, offering a more nuanced view of his human flaws and creative range. By examining his architectural writings, the article underscores how Borges, as a dilettante, brought imaginative freedom to criticism, contrasting with professional rigidity. It invites a reevaluation of his contributions beyond literature, emphasizing his enduring relevance in interdisciplinary discourse, especially as the anniversary prompts both celebration and critical reflection.