Simplicity and Surprise

I was blown away by this VW bus I saw in a Durham hardware store parking lot. The original bus is a gorgeous form, and the roof rack, chrome “V” trim, and movable front windows make this one a rare gem.

I wonder if some of the appeal of the original bus’ form is in its simple shape. It’s just a rectangular volume. Maybe our brains like simple shapes. But later VW busses were rectangular too, and they don’t come close to this beauty. Rounding the edges of the rectangle with an aerodynamic function softened the rectangular form into something more huggable than it’s more angular descendants.

Simplicity shows again in the line of windows that cover the entire upper third of the vehicle. That makes for an uncomplicated division of the form into thirds: wheels, body, windows. But then the roof rack adds an element of surprise and delight even though it’s functional as well.

The bold VW emblem on the front of the bus centers the composition and gives it a dynamic pull forward. Another joyful surprise is the movable front windows. They are the only asymmetrical element in the composition, amplifying the VW bus’ beloved playfulness. But their functionality fails. Imagine opening those windows at 60 miles per hour and getting blasted by the wind. But that fail is okay, almost welcome and mischievous. With the wind in my face, I for one would feel very alive driving this gem.