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Aims: Optical interferometry from space for the purpose of detecting andcharacterising exoplanets is seeing a revival, specifically from missions suchas the proposed Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE). A defaultassumption since the design studies of Darwin and TPF-I has been that the EmmaX-array configuration is the optimal architecture for this goal. Here, weexamine whether new advances in the field of nulling interferometry, such asthe concept of kernel nulling, challenge this assumption.  Methods: We develop a tool designed to derive the photon-limited signal tonoise ratio of a large sample of simulated planets for different architectureconfigurations and beam combination schemes. We simulate four basicconfigurations: the double Bracewell/X-array, and kernel nullers with three,four and five telescopes respectively.  Results: We find that a configuration of five telescopes in a pentagonalshape, using a five aperture kernel nulling scheme, outperforms the X-arraydesign in both search (finding more planets) and characterisation (obtainingbetter signal, faster) when total collecting area is conserved. This isespecially the case when trying to detect Earth twins (temperate, rocky planetsin the habitable zone), showing a 23% yield increase over the X-array. Onaverage, we find that a five telescope design receives 1.2 times the signalover the X-array design.  Conclusions: With the results of this simulation, we conclude that the EmmaX-array configuration may not be the best architecture choice for the upcomingLIFE mission, and that a five telescope design utilising kernel nullingconcepts will likely provide better scientific return for the same collectingarea, provided that technical solutions for the required achromatic phaseshifts can be implemented.

Large Interferometer For Exoplanets (LIFE): IV. Ideal kernel-nulling array architectures for a space-based mid-infrared nulling interferometer