Shelling out: Architects transform derelict house

Hamtramck, Michigan – The recession has hit some cities in the US hard. But five architecture research fellows at the University of Michigan have transformed an abandoned house into a design lab.

The run-down building, which cost the researchers $500 at an auction, was transformed from an empty shell into a fully equipped house with stairs, walls, glazing and different rooms.

The recession has resulted in people developing a range of innovative solutions. For more on how disused buildings are increasingly converted into usable spaces, read our Betaprenuers report.