Villa Jeanneret-Perret to the public in 2005. The Villa Jeanneret-Perret is a witness to the pioneering architecture of the 20th century and the development of Le Corbusier; his characteristic neo-classic style breaks with the regional Art Nouveau and is based on his experience in Paris as a student of Auguste Perret and in Berlin with Peter Behrens. Villa Jeanneret-Perret The Villa Jeanneret-Perret (also known as "Maison blanche") is the first independent project by Swiss architect Le Corbusier. Built in 1912 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Charles-Edouard Jeanneret's hometown, it was designed for his parents. Open to the public since 2005, the house is under
Gris-gris (talisman) originates with the French "joujou" meaning doll or play-thing. It has otherwise been attributed in scholarly sources to the Mandingo word meaning "magic." The gris-gris originated in Dagomba in Ghana and was associated with Islamic traditions. Originally the gris-gris was adorned with Islamic scripture and was used to ward off evil spirits (evil djinn) or bad luck. Historians of the time noted that they were frequently worn by non-believers and believers alike, and were also found attached to buildings. The practice of using gris-gris, though originating in Africa, came to the United States with enslaved Africans and was quickly adopted