[FLORA-396] API Foundations

[tchoutri]

Proposed changes

Contributor checklist

• [x] My PR fixes #396
• [ ] I have read and understood the CONTRIBUTING guide
• [ ] I have inserted my change and a link to this PR in the CHANGELOG

[tchoutri]

@dylan-thinnes This PR is going to create quite a lot of conflict with #389. My offer to take your PR to the finish line still stands. :)