
Rodrigo Bollat Montenegro
Rodrigo is the founding principal at RBM Architecture & Design, a firm that focuses on custom residential design, community urban planning, and the continuing adaptation of traditional values in architecture and urbanism in our modern world. He describes his previous work experience as having been trained in the best of both worlds: excellence at the detailed residential scale and collaborative project management while working at Ferguson & Shamamian Architects in New York City, and mastery in traditional urban design and humanely- scaled, mixed-use buildings while at Estudio Urbano in Guatemala City. His current work ranges from new residences in Guatemala and Costa Rica and custom office designs, to the revitalization of a historic farm.
Following his undergraduate studies in architecture at Universidad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala, Rodrigo graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a masters degree in classical architecture and urban design. Subsequently, he obtained an MBA from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. He is the 2022 recepient of the Award for Emerging Excellence in the Classical Tradition, collaboratively awarded by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art in New York City, The Prince of Wales’ Foundation in the United Kingdom, and the International Network for Traditional Building, Architecture & Urbanism (INTBAU), an organization present in over 100 countries. Additionally, his academic projects from Notre Dame have received numerous awards including the Student Grand Prize at the Charter Awards of the Congress for the New Urbanism in Dallas, Texas.
Rodrigo is a licensed architect in the state of New York and in his native Guatemala, where his practice is based. He is a Fellow at the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art where he serves in various committees and is a recurring instructor. Since 2022, Rodrigo is a part of the White House Historical Association’s Next-Gen Leaders Cohort, and a member of the New Urban Guild.
TEAM
- Roberto Canek
- Jose Pablo Hernanadez
- Michelle Miranda
Firm Values
Architecture of Service
As architects, our first priority is to serve our clients; to guide and carefully listen to their preferences and needs in order to design their vision into an exciting reality.
Collaboration
Whether designing a house, a building, or a city, success relies on the efficient collaboration between members of the design team: clients, architects, interior designers, landscape architects, lighting designers, engineers, among many others.
Character
Placemaking begins by studying what makes a locale unique when applying those lessons to enhance our modern needs.
Travel
We continually draw inspiration from our travels, which we then use to inform and enhance the design process. Traveling is the best form of of continuing education for an architect; an architect who doesn’t travel is doomed to think inside the box. View Travelogue.

With the ICAA in Antigua

Capturing the sights of Rome

On an Architectural Tour of Malta
Awards & Publications
- TEFAF New York, Panel: The Future of Classicism
- Sacred Architecture Journal, Vol. 44, Published Essay:
“The Heart of the City; The Church in Latin America” - Award for Emerging Excellence in the Classical Tradition
Given by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), The Prince’s Foundation,
and the International Network for Traditional Building & Urbanism (INTBAU) - Grand Prize, Congress for the New Urbanism,
For graduate thesis project: Cities of a New Port Metropolis, Guatemala - Charter Award of Merit, Congress for the New Urbanism
For the project: Vision of Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana. - Acanthus Award, Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, Chicago, IL
For the project: A Flemish Embassy in Rome - Acanthus Award, Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, Chicago, IL
For the project: New Plazza San Giovanni in Laterano - Sacred Architecture Journal, Vol. 30
Published essay: The Architecture of the Simon Peter Memorial - The Classicist No. 13, Institute of Classical Architecture & Art
Project published: Cities of a New Port Metropolis, Guatemala - Actoterion, University of Notre Dame
Project published: Abbey of Saint Benedict