diff --git a/heat/db/__init__.py b/heat/db/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..998253999b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heat/db/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+'''Database abstraction for Heat.'''
+
+from heat.db.api import *
diff --git a/heat/db/api.py b/heat/db/api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..639fae2f64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heat/db/api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+'''
+Interface for database access.
+
+Usage:
+
+    >>> from heat import db
+    >>> db.event_get(context, event_id)
+    # Event object received
+
+The underlying driver is loaded as a :class:`LazyPluggable`. SQLAlchemy is
+currently the only supported backend.
+'''
+
+from nova import flags
+from nova.openstack.common import cfg
+from nova import utils
+
+
+db_opts = [
+    cfg.StrOpt('db_backend', default='db', help='The backend to use for db'),
+    ]
+
+FLAGS = flags.FLAGS
+FLAGS.register_opts(db_opts)
+
+IMPL = utils.LazyPluggable('db_backend', db='heat.db.sqlalchemy.api')
+
+
+def raw_template_get(context, template_id):
+    return IMPL.raw_template_get(context, template_id)
+
+def raw_template_get_all(context):
+    return IMPL.raw_template_get_all(context)
+
+def raw_template_create(context, values):
+    return IMPL.raw_template_create(context, values)
+
+
+def parsed_template_get(context, template_id):
+    return IMPL.parsed_template_get(context, template_id)
+
+def parsed_template_get_all(context):
+    return IMPL.parsed_template_get_all(context)
+
+def parsed_template_create(context, values):
+    return IMPL.parsed_template_create(context, values)
+
+
+def state_get(context, state_id):
+    return IMPL.state_get(context, state_id)
+
+def state_get_all(context):
+    return IMPL.state_get_all(context)
+
+def state_create(context, values):
+    return IMPL.state_create(context, values)
+
+
+def event_get(context, event_id):
+    return IMPL.event_get(context, event_id)
+
+def event_get_all(context):
+    return IMPL.event_get_all(context)
+
+def event_get_all_by_stack(context, stack_id):
+    return IMPL.event_get_all_by_stack(context, stack_id)
+
+def event_create(context, values):
+    return IMPL.event_create(context, values)
diff --git a/heat/db/sqlalchemy/__init__.py b/heat/db/sqlalchemy/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/heat/db/sqlalchemy/api.py b/heat/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2bf1ab95d8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/heat/db/sqlalchemy/api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+# vim: tabstop=4 shiftwidth=4 softtabstop=4
+
+#
+#    Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); you may
+#    not use this file except in compliance with the License. You may obtain
+#    a copy of the License at
+#
+#         http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+#    Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+#    distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT
+#    WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the
+#    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
+#    under the License.
+
+'''Implementation of SQLAlchemy backend.'''
+
+
+# a big TODO
+def raw_template_get(context, template_id):
+    return 'test return value'
+
+def raw_template_get_all(context):
+    pass
+
+def raw_template_create(context, values):
+    pass
+
+
+def parsed_template_get(context, template_id):
+    pass
+
+def parsed_template_get_all(context):
+    pass
+
+def parsed_template_create(context, values):
+    pass
+
+
+def state_get(context, state_id):
+    pass
+
+def state_get_all(context):
+    pass
+
+def state_create(context, values):
+    pass
+
+
+def event_get(context, event_id):
+    pass
+
+def event_get_all(context):
+    pass
+
+def event_get_all_by_stack(context, stack_id):
+    pass
+
+def event_create(context, values):
+    pass