Which of the following best describes a complex building form?

A complex building form is characterized by a high surface area to volume ratio. This means that the architectural design features multiple facets, projections, or indentations, which increases the overall surface area relative to the enclosed volume.

Buildings with complex forms tend to have more edges, corners, and irregular shapes, leading to a greater amount of exterior exposure. This can influence various factors, including wind patterns around the structure and the potential for embers to settle on different surfaces during a wildfire.

A lower surface area to volume ratio, on the other hand, is typically found in simpler, more compact building designs, which minimize exposure to external fire hazards. Simple geometric shapes also indicate a building design that lacks complexity. Lastly, minimized heat retention refers to thermal properties rather than the shape or complexity of the building, and does not address the surface area to volume ratio. Therefore, the option that correctly describes a complex building form is the one that highlights its high surface area to volume ratio.