What Detail does

DETAIL (legal entity: DETAIL ARCHITECTURE GmbH) is a Munich-based, privately held architecture publishing company founded in 1961. The company operates a multi-platform knowledge business serving professional architects, architecture students and educators, structural engineers, and institutional libraries worldwide. Its core offering is the flagship DETAIL Magazine, a bi-monthly (6 issues/year) architecture publication featuring international projects documented with construction drawings at scale 1:20 and comprehensive project narratives. Complementing the magazine is DETAIL Inspiration, an online project database containing thousands of documented buildings accessible via tiered individual, student, office, and institutional subscriptions.

DETAIL's business model is diversified across six primary revenue streams: recurring magazine subscriptions (individual issues priced €27–28), one-time book sales through multiple branded series (DETAIL Atlas, DETAIL Praxis, DETAIL Green, DETAIL Engineering, DETAIL Monografien, DETAIL Structure, DETAIL Baukultur, DETAIL Städte, DETAIL Bauaufgaben; price band €39.90–€119.90), branded merchandise (DETAIL Collection), events and conferences (Fassadenkongress, Forum Zirkuläres Bauen, Kongress Modulbau, Digital Kongress), industry awards (DETAIL Award, DETAIL Construction Award), and architectural study tours (DETAIL Travel). Distribution combines a direct e-commerce storefront (detail.de/shop), retail newsstand and bookstore channels, B2B institutional subscriptions, self-service online database access, and a multi-channel marketing operation spanning LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Spotify podcasts, and daily/weekly newsletters.

The company's go-to-market is sales-led with a strong content-marketing layer, supported by sponsored partner pages with building-product manufacturers (Schüco, VELUX, Solarlux) and media partnerships with major trade fairs such as BAU 2025. With 11–50 employees, no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no M&A activity, DETAIL is a long-tenured, self-sustaining niche publishing operation whose primary strategic assets are its 60+ year editorial archive, internationally recognized brand, and deep entrenchment within architecture schools and professional firms. The 2025 launch of a Digital Lab initiative signals nascent exploration of technology-driven extensions (including AI in architectural design) beyond the traditional print and database core.

Name

Detail

Legal name

DETAIL ARCHITECTURE GmbH

Website

https://detail.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DETAIL is a Munich-based architecture publishing company founded in 1961 that serves professional architects, architecture schools, and construction firms worldwide through its flagship magazine, online project database, specialized book series, events, awards, and travel tours.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Publishing

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Codes & Building Standards Publishing (MPAJACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architecture, Construction & Building Codes Reference (Design, BIM, Safety Codes) (EDAGAGAH), News, Politics & Current Affairs Magazines (MPAJAEAO)

Keywords

• Architecture publishing
• Construction documentation
• Architectural reference materials
• Building project database
• Technical architecture books

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions and Single Issues: DETAIL publishes 6 issues per year covering construction topics and architectural details. Subscriptions and individual magazine sales form a core recurring revenue stream.
2. Technical Books and Publications: Sale of specialized architecture books under series including DETAIL Atlas, DETAIL Praxis, DETAIL Green, DETAIL Monographs, DETAIL Engineering, and more. Books range from €39.90 to €119.90.
3. DETAIL Collection Merchandise: Sale of branded merchandise including calendars, laptop sleeves, T-shirts, and socks.
4. DETAIL Inspiration Subscriptions: Online database access available as individual, student, office, and institutional subscription plans.
5. Events and Awards: Organization of DETAIL Award, Construction Award, Architecture Biennial events, and architectural travel tours.
6. Digital Content and E-Papers: Digital versions of magazines and publications available for purchase and subscription.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DETAIL publishes a flagship architecture magazine (6 issues per year) covering construction topics with detailed building documentation at scale 1:20, complemented by the DETAIL Inspiration online database of thousands of architectural projects, an extensive book series portfolio (Atlas, Praxis, Green, Engineering, Monografien, and more), architectural travel tours, and award programs for practicing architects and construction professionals.

Product overview

DETAIL is a multi-platform architecture publication founded in 1961, offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services for architects. The core offerings include the DETAIL Magazine (the flagship architecture publication with detailed building documentation), the DETAIL Inspiration online database (containing thousands of detailed architectural projects), and subscription services combining both. The publishing business extends through book series including DETAIL Atlas, DETAIL Praxis, DETAIL Green, DETAIL Engineering, DETAIL Monografien, DETAIL Städte, DETAIL Structure, DETAIL Bauaufgaben, and DETAIL Baukultur, plus the Edition DETAIL special publications. Additional offerings include the DETAIL Collection (merchandise), DETAIL Travel (architectural tours), award programs (DETAIL Construction Award, DETAIL Award), and DETAIL Events (conferences including Fassadenkongress, Forum Zirkuläres Bauen, Kongress Modulbau, and Digital Kongress). The company also operates an e-commerce shop and Digital Lab exploring topics like AI in architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DETAIL Construction Award: Annual architecture award recognizing excellence in construction details
• DETAIL Award
• DETAIL Inspiration
• DETAIL Collection
• DETAIL Travel
• Edition DETAIL
• DETAIL Atlas
• DETAIL Praxis
• DETAIL Green
• DETAIL Monografien
• DETAIL Structure

Products and services

• DETAIL Magazin The flagship architecture magazine dedicated to construction topics and building details, published six times per year and featuring worldwide architecture projects with scale drawings at 1:20 and comprehensive text and image documentation for practicing architects.
• DETAIL Inspiration Online project database containing thousands of detailed documented buildings, providing architects with construction solutions and reference projects with scale drawings, comprehensive documentation, and searchable project archives.
• DETAIL Abonnements (Subscriptions) Subscription service providing ongoing access to DETAIL magazine and the online database DETAIL Inspiration for architects, with tiered plans for individuals, students, offices, and institutions at annual billing cadence.
• DETAIL Books (Book Series) Portfolio of technical reference book series including DETAIL Atlas (technical reference), DETAIL Praxis (practical construction methodology), DETAIL Green (sustainable architecture), DETAIL Engineering (structural and technical), DETAIL Monografien (monographs), DETAIL Städte (cities), DETAIL Structure (structural systems), DETAIL Bauaufgaben (building typologies), DETAIL Baukultur (architectural culture), and Edition DETAIL (special editions); prices range from €39.90 to €119.90 per title.
• DETAIL Collection (Merchandise) Branded merchandise line for architects and design enthusiasts including DETAIL Kalender (calendar 2027, €34.90), T-shirts (€24.90), socks (€14.90), and laptop sleeves.
• DETAIL Travel Architectural study trips and tours, including planned trips to Copenhagen 2026 and Berlin, offering guided tours of architectural interventions in cities for architecture professionals and enthusiasts.
• DETAIL Construction Award / DETAIL Award Programs International architecture award programs recognizing outstanding building projects, including the DETAIL Construction Award 2025 and the DETAIL Award (with documented editions in 2024 and 2022), with categories such as Typologie and construction detail categories.
• DETAIL Events (Conferences) Industry conferences including the Fassadenkongress (Facade Congress), Forum Zirkuläres Bauen (Circular Construction Forum), Kongress Modulbau (Modular Construction Congress), and Digital Kongress, positioning DETAIL as a central knowledge hub for architecture professionals.
• Digital Lab Digital innovation initiative at DETAIL exploring topics such as artificial intelligence in architectural design and other digital tools for the architecture and construction community.

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schüco International KGcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Schüco is featured as a DETAIL partner page (Detail About Schüco), providing architectural content and product information in collaboration with DETAIL. This partnership provides visibility and content distribution for the window and facade systems manufacturer.
• VELUXcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025VELUX co-organizes the VELUX Architecture Competition with DETAIL, positioning both brands in the sustainable daylighting architecture space. This includes dedicated content and event coverage on the DETAIL platform.
• BAU (Trade Fair)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025DETAIL is a media partner for BAU 2025, one of the world's leading trade fairs for architecture, materials, and systems. DETAIL provides editorial coverage and event presence at the fair.
• Various Building Material ManufacturersminorOthersExtended search functionality on DETAIL website includes numerous building material and construction product manufacturers (Schüco, Vitra, Velux, Saint Gobain Group, Sika, Knauf, etc.) whose products appear in documented projects. These are editorial content relationships rather than formal partnerships.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Baumeister: German architecture magazine focused on architecture and construction details. The closest German-speaking direct competitor to DETAIL Magazine with similar editorial positioning and target audience.
• db deutsche bauzeitung: German architecture and construction trade publication serving architecture firms and construction professionals. Direct competitor in the German B2B architecture media market with a similar professional audience.
• Dezeen: Leading online architecture and design magazine with global reach. Competes with DETAIL Magazine and DETAIL Inspiration as a primary digital destination for architects seeking project documentation, news, and design inspiration.
• ArchDaily: The world's most-visited architecture website, publishing daily architecture news and project documentation. Direct competitor to DETAIL Magazine and DETAIL Inspiration in serving practicing architects with project reference content.
• The Architectural Review: Influential UK-based architecture magazine with heritage dating to 1896. A direct peer in high-end architectural journalism, serving practicing architects with critical and project-based content.
• Architectural Record: Long-running US architecture publication and the American counterpart to DETAIL Magazine. Competes directly in B2B architecture publishing with a similar content model covering projects, products, and practice.

Emerging players

• Architizer: Online platform offering a searchable database of architectural projects, products, and firms. Direct competitor to DETAIL Inspiration's project database model, with stronger US presence and tech-driven discovery features.
• Designboom: Online architecture and design magazine publishing daily global content. Adjacent competitor with a digital-first editorial model that competes for the same architect and designer audience as DETAIL.

Broad incumbents

• Wallpaper*: Premium design, architecture, and lifestyle publication. Adjacent competitor covering architecture within a broader design and luxury context, competing for high-end advertising budgets and design-conscious readers.
• Domus: Italian architecture, design, and contemporary culture magazine with global distribution. A broader incumbent in international architecture publishing, covering wider design and culture territory than DETAIL's focused approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DETAIL.de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about
• Instagraminstagram.com/detailmagazine
• Pinterestpinterest.de/detailmagazine/_created
• Xx.com/detailde

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Detail