Some of the 1,600 objects previously exhibited in the Triennale di Milano have found a permanent home in Milan's newly-opened Italian Design Museum.

The museum, which was made possible by the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, opened on 9 April to coincide with Milano Design Week 2019.

Sitting under the artistic direction of Joseph Grima, the museum is aiming to become "the leading international centre dedicated to Italian design" with plans already in place for a 6,000sq m (64,583sq ft) expansion. A design competition for the planned work is set to launch in May 2019.

Once expanded, the museum will take the Triennale di Milano’s full design collection onboard while actively seeking further acquisitions and new collaborations with archives, corporations, schools, universities and museums.

"In addition to preserving and safeguarding the historical memory of Italian design, the museum will also serve as a place of inspiration," said Grima.

"It is an inspiration that may come directly from the very voices of the masters of design whose works are housed by the museum.

"The itinerary, in fact, includes recordings of the designers’ voices, who, in a simple manner narrate the genesis of the works and the needs they had to answer."

The Triennale technical office designed the museum, which is located in the Palazzo dell'Arte.