Given all you hear about the woes of the real estate market throughout the U.S., it is hard to imagine that the high-end, most uniquely designed architectural homes in Venice are selling, and selling fast!

Maybe it is the draw of trendy Abbot Kinney, or the eclectic lifestyle that Venice affords, but for whatever reason, architectural homes in Venice are the hot ticket right now.

With this beautiful Robert Thibodeau designed home hitting the market last Thursday (pictured to the right, listed with Mimi McCormick at Teles Properties) as inspiration, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at all the architectural homes in Venice that have sold this year.

Here are the highlights:

2335 Eastern Canal (pictured to the left, view more photos here) - This may be my favorite home on the Venice Canals. Famed architect David Hertz did the remodel and I love the use of outside space in this home. From the front yard lounge area – complete with fire pit and Jacuzzi – to the canal view balcony off the living room and the spacious rooftop deck, this home has great flow and an open feel, which can be difficult to find on the canals. It sold in January for $2,775,000.

714 Nowita (view photos here) - Another David Hertz designed home in a great location on the famed walk streets. The home has a unique floor plan including a bridge extending from the main house to an office above the three-car garage. It felt futuristic to me because of the stark, minimalist style with lots of polished concrete. Privacy – which is tough to find on the walk streets – is a highlight of this house thanks to a thick hedge surrounding the property. It sold in May for $2,200,000, which represents one of the highest price per square foot sales on the walk streets ever recorded.

524 Rialto (pictured to the right, view more photos here) - Designed and built by the Venice local designer Corinne Baginski, this home garnered a lot of attention from the day it came on the market. All the windows and skylights made it one of the brightest homes I have ever been in, and no expense was spared on any of the finishes. Plus, how cool was the outdoor fireplace on the third floor?! The home received multiple offers and sold at $2,500,000 in June after a particularly long escrow.

845 Milwood (view more photos here) - Designed by up and coming architects Lee and Mundwiler this home sold after only two weeks on the market! The boxy exterior enabled the designers to maximize the space inside and they equipped the home with advanced, modern finishes. To me, the highlight was the exquisite master bath with its open shower and giant tub! It sold in January for $2,060,000.

A few other notable sales include this beachfront architectural, and this LEED certified home on the walk streets.

The result of all these high-end sales has been increased activity by investors and builders looking to buy in the Venice area. Their target has been vacant lots and tear down properties in the best locations in Venice including the walk streets, canals, and anything close to Abbot Kinney, on which they can build.

What is your favorite architectural home in your neighborhood? Do you like seeing these modern designs or do you prefer the traditional and craftsman styles?