DETAIL Inspiration FAQ

We have summarized the most frequently asked questions about the online database DETAIL Inspiration. For a better overview the FAQ are divided into the following user types: Single user / students, offices as well as institutions.

User type Single User / Students

What is DETAIL Inspiration?

The knowledge platform DETAIL Inspiration contains all project documentation ever published in the DETAIL magazine and a large amount of additional content - a total of more than 6,000 German-language and over 4,000 English-language articles, including photos and detailed drawings. The content can be searched using a free text search, but can also be filtered by year of construction, location, building use and building design, among other things.

Here are just some of the many benefits that DETAIL Inspiration offers:

• Professional search and filter function

• Image search for inspiration

• Detailed drawings on a scale of 1:20 (in the PDF view)

• Regular upload of new projects

• Personal watch list

Access to DETAIL Inspiration is via personal login. Click on www.detail.de/en/discover-inspiration to select your preferred subscription. You can choose from the following options: Trial, Flex, Annual or combination subscription (in combination with a print subscription). For the annual subscriptions, you can also choose between BASIC (with no download function) and PREMIUM (with up to 50 downloads per month).

How can I subscribe to DETAIL Inspiration?

You can purchase access to our DETAIL Inspiration database in our online shop: www.detail.de/en/detailshop-detail-inspiration

Select the appropriate user group and then your preferred subscription option. After you place your order, you will receive immediate access to DETAIL Inspiration.

How can I take out a Trial Subscription and what are the conditions?

You have the option to test DETAIL Inspiration for 30 days for only € 1. You can order the Trial subscription in our online shop at: www.detail.de/en/discover-inspiration and select the appropriate user group.

This offer is only valid if no DETAIL Inspiration subscription has been taken out during the last 12 months, and the offer can only be availed of once per person.

If you are satisfied with our DETAIL Inspiration, you do not need to take any further action: The DETAIL Inspiration Trial subscription is extended automatically after the test month and it then becomes a payable subscription: For single users, this is an Annual Subscription PREMIUM with up to 50 downloads per month, and for students, this is a Flex Subscription, which can be canceled on a monthly basis.

Were you not satisfied with DETAIL Inspiration despite the numerous benefits? That’s a pity! But you can cancel the Trial Subscription at any time during the test month.

Log in to your customer account at www.detail.de. Go to “My subscription management”. Here you will find an overview of your subscriptions and their duration. You can cancel your subscription there in the “Actions” column.

If you took out your subscription before 16.10.2024, please use our cancellation form: www.detail.de/de_en/kuendigungsformular

You can find the detailed cancellation conditions in section 8 of our terms and conditions: www.detail.de/de_en/agb

Is there a combination subscription (print and online)?

Yes, there is a reduced-rate subscription for the user types single user and student. If you already have a print subscription, we require only your subscription number, which you should specify in your order. Click here to access subscriptions for single users and here to access subscriptions for students.

What are my payment options?

The following payment options are available:

Credit card, PayPal

How or when will my login access be activated?

Your login access will be activated immediately after you place your order. You will receive a welcome e-mail with all the important information.

How does the search function work?

The so-called “Elasticsearch function” allows you to customize your search and thus obtain precise results.

A few tips on how to use it:

• Quotation marks (” ”):

o If you put words in quotation marks, you will get results with the exact group of words you entered

o Example: “big data analysis” searches for exactly this group of words and not for documents that only contain “big” or “data analysis”.


• Plus sign (+):

o A plus sign in front of a word means that this word must be included in the search results.

o Example: +Elasticsearch +Tutorial means that both words “Elasticsearch” and “Tutorial” must appear in the results.


• Minus sign (-):

o A minus sign in front of a word means that this word must not appear in the search results.

o Example: Elasticsearch -Tutorial searches for documents that contain “Elasticsearch”, but not “Tutorial”.


You also have the option of searching not only texts but also images. Each image refers directly to the appropriate project.

What happens if I have entered incorrect address data or no address data at all?

If incorrect address data is entered during the order, or if no address data is entered at all, we will unfortunately not be able to process your order.

Do I need different login data for the online shop and DETAIL Inspiration?

The same login data is valid for both the DETAIL online shop and DETAIL Inspiration database (e-mail address and password).

Using your login details, you can only log in to one device at any time.

I cannot log in. What is the reason for this?

Check that you have entered the e-mail address and the password correctly and that the caps lock key is not activated. If you copy the password, make sure that you do not also copy one or more spaces.

In many cases, it is helpful to empty the browser cache as intermediately stored data can lead to problems with login.

If you are having problems accessing the contents of DETAIL Inspiration, we would ask you to empty your entire browser cache and to check that you have the latest version of your browser installed.

If you continue to have problems with access, please contact mail@detail.de.

I can log in, but I cannot access the content of DETAIL Inspiration. What could be the reason?

We use an SSO solution (single sign-on) so that you can log in to the DETAIL online shop and DETAIL Inspiration with your user name and password. Even without a subscription, if you have a customer account with DETAIL, you are logged into DETAIL Inspiration, but you can only access content and functions with an active subscription.

Please check in your customer account under “Subscriptions” whether you have a valid subscription for DETAIL Inspiration. Subscriptions taken out before 16.10.2024 are not displayed here. If in doubt, please send an email to subscription@detail.de.

I have forgotten my password. What can I do?

If you have forgotten your password, you can request a new password in the login area of DETAIL Inspiration.

To do this, simply click login on the top right and enter your e-mail address. Then click on “forgotten password”. You will receive a link with which you can reset your password.

Your password must contain at least 8 characters and, for your own protection, it should contain both upper- and lower-case letters and special characters.

How can I change my password?

To do this, login to DETAIL Inspiration https://inspiration.detail.de/. Click on the burger menu at the top right and then on Settings. You can change your password under “General settings”. To do this, enter your new password and confirm it again. Then click on “Confirm” to update your password.

Your user name and your new password are valid for both DETAIL Inspiration and the online store.

How can I protect my password?

For your own security, you should create a password that contains both upper- and lower-case letters and special characters. For different accounts, you should create different passwords that are not easy to guess.

What should I do if my details have changed?

You can easily change your address in your customer account. To do this, log into your customer account and click on “Address book” in your profile. Here you can change your billing and shipping address.

Would you like to change your e-mail address or name? Then please send an e-mail to subscription@detail.de

How can I cancel my subscription?

Do you no longer wish to avail of the many benefits of DETAIL Inspiration? That’s a pity! But of course, it is possible to cancel your subscription.

Log in to your customer account at www.detail.de. Go to “My subscription management”. Here you will find an overview of your subscriptions and their duration. You can cancel your subscription there in the “Actions” column.

If you took out your subscription before 16.10.2024, please use our cancellation form: www.detail.de/de_en/kuendigungsformular

You can find the detailed cancellation conditions in section 8 of our terms and conditions: www.detail.de/de_en/agb

Have I the right to cancel?

Please see the separate right to cancel, which applies to digital contents, in section 10.3 of our terms and conditions: “Right of cancellation for contracts relating to the supply of digital contracts (access to DETAIL Inspiration)“ www.detail.de/en/agb.

Where can I find the terms and conditions?

Please see the terms and conditions which apply to use of DETAIL Inspiration: www.detail.de/en/agb

How is my data protected?

For information on data protection, see: www.detail.de/en/impressum/datenschutz

User type Offices 

What is DETAIL Inspiration?

The knowledge platform DETAIL Inspiration contains all project documentation ever published in the DETAIL magazine and a large amount of additional content - a total of more than 6,000 German-language and over 4,000 English-language articles, including photos and detailed drawings. The content can be searched using a free text search, but can also be filtered by year of construction, location, building use and building design, among other things.

Here are just some of the many benefits that DETAIL Inspiration offers:

• Professional search and filter function

• Image search for inspiration

• Detailed drawings on a scale of 1:20 (in the PDF view)

• Access to all employees in your office

• Regular upload of new projects

• Personal watch list

Click on www.detail.de/de_en/discover-inspiration to select your preferred subscription. You can choose from the following options: Test or annual subscription. For the annual subscriptions, you can also choose between BASIC (with no download function) and PREMIUM (with up to 100, 250 or 500 downloads per month).

How can I subscribe to DETAIL Inspiration?

You can purchase access to our DETAIL Inspiration in our online shop: www.detail.de/de_en/discover-inspiration

Select the appropriate user group and then your preferred subscription option. After you place your order, you will receive immediate personal access to DETAIL Inspiration. Your welcome email will also tell you how to invite your colleagues to your office subscription.

How can I take out a test subscription and what are the conditions?

You and your colleagues have the option to test DETAIL Inspiration for 30 days for only € 1. You can order the test subscription in our online shop at: www.detail.de/en/discover-inspiration and select the Office user group.

This offer is only valid if you have not had a DETAIL Inspiration subscription within the previous 12 months.

The subscription expires automatically after one month. After expiry of the subscription, you will receive usage statistics on your test month and a proposal for an appropriate subscription.

How can I cancel my subscription?

Do you no longer wish to avail of the many benefits of DETAIL Inspiration? That’s a pity! But of course, it is possible to cancel your subscription.

Log in to your customer account at www.detail.de. Go to “My subscription management”. Here you will find an overview of your subscriptions and their duration. You can cancel your subscription there in the “Actions” column.

If you took out your subscription before 16.10.2024, please use our cancellation form: www.detail.de/de_en/kuendigungsformular

You can find the detailed cancellation conditions in section 8 of our terms and conditions: www.detail.de/de_en/agb

How can I invite my colleagues to join my Office subscription as users?

Once you have logged in to DETAIL Inspiration, click on ‘Settings’ (top right). Under ‘User management’, you can add your colleagues by clicking on the ‘Invite user’ button. Simply enter the email addresses of your colleagues in the field provided and click on ‘Send invitation’. Your colleagues will then receive an email and can create their personal account.

Please enter valid e-mail addresses. The e-mail addresses must all contain the domain of your office.

I cannot log in. What is the reason for this?

Check that you have entered the e-mail address and the password correctly and that the caps lock key is not activated. If you copy the password, make sure that you do not also copy one or more spaces.

In many cases, it is helpful to empty the browser cache as intermediately stored data can lead to problems with login.

If you are having problems accessing the contents of DETAIL Inspiration, we would ask you to empty your entire browser cache and to check that you have the latest version of your browser installed.

The office subscription has not been activated by you? Please contact your office and ask who manages the office subscription for you. Within the user administration (Settings / User administration), an overview shows which colleagues have already been invited within the office subscription. This view is only shown to the person who ordered the subscription.

If you continue to have problems with access, please contact mail@detail.de with a description of your problem, the browser you are using and its version.

How can I log in?

Access to the online database is obtained with an Office subscription via domain or IP authentication.

Your office has a subscription with Domain login: Enter your personal e-mail address at inspiration.detail.de/en/federated-login/signin and receive your personal login link via e-mail. Please check your spam folder. The link is valid for 20 days and can be renewed after that.

Your office has a subscription with IP login: Call up www.detail.de/en/inspiration and gain direct access to the contents of DETAIL Inspiration. It is not necessary to enter a password here.

I can log in, but I cannot access the content of DETAIL Inspiration. What could be the reason?

We use an SSO solution (single sign-on) so that you can log in to the DETAIL online shop and DETAIL Inspiration with your user name and password. Even without a subscription, if you have a customer account with DETAIL, you are logged into DETAIL Inspiration, but you can only access content and functions with an active subscription.

Please check in your customer account under “Subscriptions” whether you have a valid subscription for DETAIL Inspiration. Subscriptions taken out before 16.10.2024 are not displayed here. If in doubt, please send an email to subscription@detail.de

How many employees can access DETAIL Inspiration at the same time?

You select the number of simultaneous users when you purchase the subscription. For each Office subscription, either 2, 5 or 10 employees can access the database at the same time. However, all employees of an Office/Company have access to DETAIL Inspiration, just not all at the same time.

We also offer Office subscriptions, in which all employees can access DETAIL Inspiration at any time. Please speak to us about this: inspiration@detail.de

User type Institutions  

What is DETAIL Inspiration?

DETAIL Inspiration supports you in your search for inspiration for sophisticated designs and building solutions. The knowledge platform brings together all project documentation from DETAIL as well as additional content. These can be searched using a free text search and filtered by year of construction, location, building function, building design and other attributes.

Is it possible to test DETAIL Inspiration free of charge? And if so, for how long?

Yes, you can test the database for 30 days free of charge.

How can our university test DETAIL Inspiration?

Please write us a brief e-mail stating the date from which you would like to test DETAIL Inspiration and also which IP addresses we should enable for you.

How do we gain access to DETAIL Inspiration?

Access to the database is via IP authentication or SSO solution. For remote access, we require your EZProxy IP. For individual users, login access is via a user name and password.

How can I find out about use of the database?

After expiry of the test month, you will receive usage statistics from us.

How much does an annual subscription cost?

The price depends on the number of students in your architecture faculty. Write to us. We will be happy to send you a list of our prices.

Gibt es spezielle Rabatte für Hochschulen?

Ja, es gibt spezielle Konsortialrabatte. Schreiben Sie uns. Wir senden Ihnen dann gern die Preise zu.

Are there special discounts for universities?

Yes, we have special institutional discounts. Write to us. We will be happy to send you a list of our prices.

Who can I contact if I have questions relating to an order or a complaint?

Please send all questions, orders or complaints to mail@detail.de.

Have you any further questions? You can contact us by telephone at +49 6123 9238-211 or by e-mail at mail@detail.de.

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