Construction block and building element

Abstract

A plant-based construction block ( 2 ) for a building element ( 1 ), for example a wall. The plant- based construction block ( 2 ) comprises a uniform recess ( 3 ) extending between two opposite faces ( 5 ) of the plant-based construction block ( 2 ). The recess comprising first and second interlocking portions ( 4 a, 4 b ) disposed on opposite sides of the recess ( 3 ) such that an interlocking portion of a further identical plant-based construction block can be received in the recess ( 3 ) and engage the first interlocking portion ( 4 a ), and such that an interlocking portion of a second further identical plant-based construction block can be received in the recess ( 3 ) and engage the second interlocking portion ( 4 b ).

1 . A plant-based construction block for a building element, for example a wall, the plant-based construction block comprising a uniform recess extending between two opposite faces of the plant-based construction block, the recess comprising first and second interlocking portions disposed on opposite sides of the recess such that an interlocking portion of a further identical plant-based construction block can be received in the recess and engage the first interlocking portion, and such that an interlocking portion of a second further identical plant-based construction block can be received in the recess and engage the second interlocking portion. 
     
     
         2 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 1 , wherein the plant-based construction block is generally cuboid and has a top face, a bottom face, opposing side faces, a front face, and a rear face, and wherein the recess extends through the plant-based construction block between the top face and the bottom face and opens through the rear face. 
     
     
         3 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 1 , wherein the recess comprises a uniform profile extending between the top face and the bottom face such that the further identical construction block and the second further identical construction block can be slid into the recess. 
     
     
         4 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 3 , wherein the first interlocking portion is a mirror image of the second interlocking portion. 
     
     
         5 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first interlocking portion and the second interlocking portion comprises a male engaging portion and a female engaging portion arranged to receive a corresponding male engaging portion of the further or second further identical plant-based construction block, respectively. 
     
     
         6 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 5 , wherein each male engaging portion and each female engaging portion are rounded. 
     
     
         7 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 6 , wherein each male engaging portion comprises a cylindrical sector and each female engaging portion comprises a tubular passage having a cross-section corresponding to the cylindrical sector of the male engaging portion. 
     
     
         8 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 7 , wherein the cylindrical sector of each male engaging portion comprises at least 180 degrees of a cylinder. 
     
     
         9 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 8 , wherein the cylindrical sector of each male engaging portion comprises between about 180 degrees and about 270 degrees of a cylinder. 
     
     
         10 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 7 , wherein each male engaging portion is disposed adjacent to the corresponding female engaging portion such that a wall of the plant-based construction block has an inflection where the male engaging portion joins the female engaging portion. 
     
     
         11 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 7 , wherein the male engaging members of the first and second interlocking portions are disposed at an exterior mouth of the recess opening through a side of the plant-based construction block, and wherein the female engaging members of the first and second interlocking portions are disposed on an internal side of the recess. 
     
     
         12 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 11 , wherein each male engaging member extends away from the plant-based construction block, beyond an exterior face of the plant-based construction block. 
     
     
         13 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 12 , comprising a hemp-composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 13 , wherein the hemp-composite material comprises a hemp shiv and a binder. 
     
     
         15 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 14 , wherein the binder comprises a lime-based binder or a silica-based binder. 
     
     
         16 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 1 , comprising a wood material. 
     
     
         17 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 16 , wherein the wood material comprises a wood composite material. 
     
     
         18 . The plant-based construction block of  claim 16 , wherein the plant-based construction block comprises a plurality of wood laminae. 
     
     
         19 . A building element, for example a wall, comprising a first plant-based construction block, a second plant-based construction block and a third plant-based construction block, each of the first, second and third plant-based construction blocks being according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second interlocking portions of the second plant-based construction block and one of the first and second interlocking portions of the third plant-based construction block are both received in the recess of the first plant-based construction block so as to engage the first and second interlocking portions of the first plant-based construction block, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The building element of  claim 19 , wherein the second and/or third plant-based construction block is only partially inserted into the recess of the first plant-based construction block such that the plant-based construction blocks are staggered. 
     
     
         21 . The building element of  claim 19 , further comprising a foundation supporting the first, second, and third plant-based construction blocks, and wherein the foundation is staggered such that the second and/or third plant-based construction block is only partially inserted into the recess of the first plant-based construction block. 
     
     
         22 . The building element of  claim 21 , wherein the foundation further comprises an attachment for a tubular support rod arranged to extend through at least one of the first, second and third plant-based construction blocks. 
     
     
         23 . The building element of  claim 22 , further comprising a tubular support rod attachable to the foundation by a threaded connector. 
     
     
         24 . The building element of  claim 19 , further comprising a plurality of concrete construction blocks being shaped to interlock with the at least one of the first, second and third plant-based construction blocks. 
     
     
         25 . The building element of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of concrete construction blocks are arranged to provide a load bearing sub-structure of the building element. 
     
     
         26 . The building element of  claim 19 , wherein the building element comprises a wall, for example an external wall of a building. 
     
     
         27 . The building element of  claim 19 , wherein the building element comprises an outer skin attachable to an existing wall of a building. 
     
     
         28 . The building element of  claim 27 , further comprising a plurality of mounting brackets attachable to the existing wall, and a plurality of support rods attachable to the mounting brackets, and wherein at least one of the first, second and third plant-based construction blocks is configured to be coupled to at least one of the plurality of support rods. 
     
     
         29 . The building element of  claim 19 , further comprising a bracket arranged to be retained between the first and second plant-based construction blocks and to provide a mounting point for a cladding system, for example a rail of a cladding system.