Yes, this is my favorite basic layout - and not just for documentation. Except on desktop I want a sticky footer and the search to be always visible as a field you can tyoe into.
Back in the 80s with frameset top, main left and maybe footer - if you remember. So practical. Then it went downhill ā¦
Notice how pagebuilders for ease of use and control and so on - also has a left pane when working with it and also right pane - with all the controls. It gives the user control - just as it gives me and you when we make the website.
It does not have to be boring - you can put a background image covering the entire screen and still have the gitbook-menu/mobile-off-screen as the virtually the same and get creative.