diff --git a/src/cytriangle/__init__.py b/src/cytriangle/__init__.py
index e69de29..3c26b10 100644
--- a/src/cytriangle/__init__.py
+++ b/src/cytriangle/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from .functional_interface import triangulate
diff --git a/src/cytriangle/functional_interface.py b/src/cytriangle/functional_interface.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d5dc017
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/cytriangle/functional_interface.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+from cytriangle.cytriangle import CyTriangle
+
+
+def triangulate(input_dict, flags):
+    # parse regions
+    raw_regions = input_dict["regions"]
+    parsed_regions = []
+    for region in raw_regions:
+        parsed_regions.append(
+            {
+                "vertex": [region[0], region[1]],
+                "marker": region[2],
+                "max_area": region[3],
+            }
+        )
+    input_dict["regions"] = parsed_regions
+    input = CyTriangle(input_dict)
+    input.triangulate(triswitches=flags)
+    return input.out.to_dict()