Make vim splits always positioned in the same place

Question

Lets say there are multiple splits at the following layout. Is it possible to keep the last two placed in their position when the editing area is closed or unloaded from the buffer list, and fill its remaining real estate with void tilde lines.

--------------------------------------------------------
|                                                      |
|                                                      |
|                                                      |
|                      Editing Area                    |
|                                                      |
|                                                      |
|                                                      |
|                                                      |
|                                                      |
|------------------------------------------------------|
|                                                      |
|        Another Buuffer                               |
|                                                      |
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|                                                      |
|        Quickfix list                                 |
|                                                      |
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Answer 1

I recommend to use the vim-bbye plug-in and the associated :Bd command.

It unloads the buffer but keep the layout.

Answer 2

Every window must show exactly one buffer at any moment.

If you don't need some buffer anymore then open another one with :e foobar.txt or create a new one with :enew.